Brady’s Bothwell Guidelines for the Appropriate Use of Video Games

Brady Bothwell is a 24-year-old Toronto music production artist who spent his childhood playing video games.

1. Read the video game ratings on the back of the game and decide whether the game is appropriate for your child.

2. Sit with your child for the first few times the game is played and see for yourself and your child whether the game is appropriate for your family.

3. If you as a parent do not think that a game is appropriate do not have it in your home.

4. Confer with the parents of your child’s closest friends to make sure that they know what content you find appropriate and inappropriate in video games.

5. Have discussions with your child about what he or she thinks about the game in relation to the real world. (The child should be able to clearly understand the difference between the online world and the real world.)